The Ministry of Transport and Communications to temporary premises

The Ministry of Transport and Communications to temporary premises

The premises of Finland's Ministry of Transport and Communications at Eteläesplanadi 16 in Helsinki will be renovated and refurbished in 2009-2011. For that period some Ministry departments and units will be located nearby in the Helsinki city centre, at Yliopistonkatu 5.

The Ministry's postal address and telephone numbers will remain unchanged. After the refurbishment the Ministry departments will move back to their premises at Eteläesplanadi.

As of 1 October 2009 the temporary premises at Yliopistonkatu will house:Minister of Transport and Minister of Communications Permanent SecretaryRegistryPress and Information UnitAdministration DepartmentUnit for Logistics and Russia Cooperation and some individual activities.

All members of the Ministry's Communications Policy Department and a majority of the personnel of the Transport Policy Department will continue to work at their premises of Eteläesplanadi 18.

The original style and splendour of the building will be restored

The Art Nouveau building that originally housed the Mortgage Society of Finland was erected in 1909. The building was designed by Lars Sonck. It came under state ownership in 1939 after which it has housed the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, National Board of General Education, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

The building has been extended over the years and it has undergone several changes. In 1980 it was included in the list of Protected Public Buildings. The aims of the present renovation are to protect its history and preserve its original materials. The parts of the premises that have been altered over the years will undergo the most extensive renovation.

Open House at the Ministry on 3 October

Before the Ministry of Transport and Communications building closes for the two-year refurbishment everyone is welcome to visit the Ministry's Infra Hall and to get to know the Ministry's work. The Open House event on Saturday, 3 October, at 10-13 commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Finnish Government.